Checking in on the Victims of the Boston Bombing

It's been almost three months since the Boston Marathon was marred by two bombs, which killed three people and injured scores more. We profiled nine victims who suffered horrendous injuries. How are those people doing now? Three months on, they are trying to make their lives as normal as possible.

1. Celeste Corcoran

Celeste Corcoran of Lowell, Massachusetts, was cheering on her sister in the marathon when a bomb injured her so badly that both of her legs were amputated. Corcoran displayed exceptional "grit and perseverance" during her recovery, as she was in the same hospital room with her badly injured teenage daughter Sydney. Celeste has new prosthetic legs now. She took her first steps on June 3rd, one day before her daughter did. Celeste is home now, happy to be learning to do housework on her new legs, which make her a few inches taller than she was before.

3. Ryan McMahon

Ryan McMahon broke her back and both arms in a fall during the bombing. Her doctors say that, even with therapy, her recovery will take six to twelve months. McMahon is getting around with a back brace and a brace on one of her wrists. She says she feels lucky to have not been injured as badly as some of the others.

4. Kaitlynn Cates

Kaitlynn Cates was seriously injured in her leg by the bombing, and came close to being an amputee. As it is, she kept the leg, but lost a chunk of muscle. She was able to walk when she graduated from Boston College May 20th, along with two other BC students injured in the bombing.

5. Adrianne Haslet-Davis

Adrianne Haslet-Davis is a dance teacher with the Arthur Murray Company, and lost her lower left leg in the bombing incident. The company has been sponsoring fundraising events across the country to help the couple. On April 30, this clip of Haslet-Davis was featured on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. She still has her sights set on dancing again, and has an open invitation to dance on the competition show when she feels up to it. Haslet-Davis and her husband, Air Force Capt. Adam Davis, are at home in Boston, and Haslet's parents came from Seattle to help them through their recoveries. Haslet-Davis looks forward to getting a prosthetic leg soon.

6. Jeff Bauman

Jeff Bauman is the man so many people saw being wheeled away from the bomb site with his legs blown off and the bone showing, although most news outlets cropped the picture at his knees. Since he was discharged from the hospital, he has made a few public appearances with Carlos Arredondo, who kept him from bleeding to death the day of the bombing. Recently, Bauman took his first steps with his new prosthetic legs. The $100,000 legs were provided by the Wiggle Your Toes Foundation, which helps amputees. Bauman is focused on learning to walk, and doesn't yet know if he'll return to his job at Costco. He is considering maybe doing something to help others instead. Read more about Bauman's recovery in the New York Times.

7. Patrick Downes and 8. Jessica Kensky Downes

Patrick and Jessica Downes are the newlyweds who were taken to separate hospitals and had one leg amputated each. The young couple are now together at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and prefer to stay out of the spotlight as they recover. However, they sent a message of thanks to their supporters who have been raising funds for their care, and told how the two health professionals are using the experience to become more in tune with suffering patients.

9. Marc Fucarile

Marc Fucarile is still in the hospital. He was the last of the bombing victims to be released from Massachusetts General Hospital, but went from there to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. According to his sister, Fucarile is dealing with recurring infection in his amputated leg, plus bone spurs that are delaying surgery. In addition to losing his right leg, Fucarile suffered shrapnel wounds all over his body, and his left leg was so damaged that it, too, may be lost, but it will be months before doctors know for sure.

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